Four children hospitalized over suspected overdoses; daycare operator arrested

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INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 14, 2014) – An Indianapolis daycare owner was arrested after police said four children were taken to a local emergency room for apparent drug overdoses.
Stephanie Gribble, 36, was arrested Friday on four counts of neglect a dependent.

According to police, the children, who attend Stay and Play Daycare in the 9400 block of Gemini Drive, were transported to a local emergency room after displaying symptoms of an acute dystonic reaction. Those symptoms included lethargy, difficulty walking, unresponsiveness, drooling, tongues hanging out and staring into space, said police.

The children include girls, ages 11 months, 2 years and 5 years, and a 5-year-old boy. The children were from three different families, the report said.

According to preliminary investigation, authorities believe the children were given some combination of over-the-counter and prescription medication on Feb. 12.

FOX 59 spoke with Phil Armstrong, who lives next door to the home daycare.

“I’ve seen nothing out of the ordinary as far as the kids or anything of that nature,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong said the owner has lived at the home for about two to three months.

“I’m sorry for the kids and parents and all that, but whatever was going on obviously shouldn’t have. I hope everybody (is) okay,” Armstrong said.

This case remains under investigation. FOX 59 knocked on the door of the daycare, but no one answered.

The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) was contacted by FOX 59, but the agency is not releasing information about the current investigation.

A statement they released read in part, “FSSA is a licensing authority, and Stephanie Gribble is not a licensed day care operator. FSSA will be issuing a cease and desist from operating a child care illegally at the address where the incident occurred.”

The state immediately ordered the daycare to shut down and stated Gribble did not have a license. FSSA confirmed Gribble has been operating illegal daycares since 2008 at a number of different places. The FSSA has taken action against Gribble for several years.

The FSSA urges parents who are looking for a daycare to make sure they are licensed and operate legally. For more information, click hereor call 1-877-511-1144.